The defending Southland Conference champion Sam Houston football team received more preseason national recognition Monday when four Bearkats were named to the 2012 College Sporting News Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) All-America squad.

The four players are listed among 100 student-athletes. Founded in 2001, College Sporting News is the largest and oldest news service solely devoted to publishing original content and other information of the FCS.

Flanders begins his junior season with 2,592 career rushing yards, just 97 away from becoming SHSU's all-time leading rusher. The Midwest City, Okla., product was Southland Conference "Player of the Year" in 2011.

Cleveland is a two-time All-Southland selection who led the Bearkat defensive line with 46 tackles including nine for losses as a junior. The senior from Baytown Lee has 95 career stops to his credit.

Taylor received Southland Conference "Defensive Player of the Year" in 2011 after leading SHSU's nationally-ranked defense with 128 tackles. The senior from Mesquite ranks No. 10 in all-time Bearkat tackles with a career mark of 236 stops.

Sincere was voted as Southland "Ofensive Player of the Year" as the Kats swept all three major football awards after a 14-1 season and an NCAA Division I National Championship game appearance. The Galveston Ball product has rolled up 1,959 yards and 19 touchdowns as an all-purpose player.

Five other Southland Conference players were listed on the preseason All-America squad including safety Jestin Love of Central Arkansas, wide receiver Cordell Roberson and defensive end Willie Jefferson of SFA and safety Malcolm Bronson and punt returner Darius Carey of McNeese State.

Sam Houston State's 2012 football season begins Saturday, Sept. 8, when the Bearkats play host to the University of Incarnate Word from San Antonio in a 6 p.m. game at Elliott T. Bowers Stadium.

Season tickets for Bearkat football are on sale now online at www.gobearkats.com/tickets or at the SHSU athletic ticket office located in the Ron Mafrige Field House at Bowers Stadium. Ticket office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The ticket office telephone number is (936) 294-1729.